First Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1816-1941

*
11
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, RALEIGH,
NORTH CAROLINA, 1816-1941
37
Raleigh N. C. First Presbyterian Church
Q
285.1
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2013
http://archive.org/details/firstpresbyteriafirs
One Hundred Twenty -Fifth
Anniversary
1816 - 1941
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina State Library
Raleigh
First Presbyterian Church
Uf
Raleigh, North Carolina
1816-1941
This booklet is not a history of the church and docs not
even attempt to deed rcitli all the pastorates. It is only
a brief statement of some of the outstanding
accomplishments here through the years.
125th Anniversary Committee
F. H. Jeteb, Chairman
K. G. Hudson
15. W. Kii.gori:
G. C. SCARIETTE
1{. J. Wyatt
Wll. P. McPlIERSON
Mrs. B. R. Lacy
Mrs. Geo. U. Baucom
Miss Susan McPheeters
Mrs. L. P. Duncan
Honorary Members
Mrs. C. D. Heartt Dr. B. K. Laci-u.
3
HE First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh was organized January 21, 1816, in
the old State House with Rev. William McPheeters, D.D., as Pastor.
The first public discourse delivered by a Presbyterian Minister in Raleigh
was a funeral sermon preached in the State House December 17, 1799, by Rev.
Joseph Caldwell, D.D., first President of the University of North Carolina. The
earliest of our Presbyterian Ministers to live in Raleigh were, like Dr. Caldwell, engaged in
school work. The Raleigh Academy was established by the 1802 Legislature and granted
the public square then known as Burke's Garden, present site of the Governor's Mansion. The
original building was erected and formally opened June 25, 1804. The first Presbyterian
Minister to make an impress on the life of Raleigh was Rev. William Leftwich Turner of Bed-ford
City, Virginia, who had been teaching in Washington Academy, Lexington, Virginia,
and was called here in 1806 by the Trustees of this new school to become "Principal of the
Academy and Pastor of the City." Under this arrangement Mr. Turner taught in the school,
preached each Sunday in the State House and served as Pastor of the community without
respect to any denominational lines. Ministers of other denominations were welcomed and
invited to preach when they came this way, but he seems to have been the resident pastor
of all alike and to have continued to serve in that capacity until his removal in 1809 to the
then larger field of Fayetteville. It was upon the departure of Mr. Turner that the Trustees
invited William McPheeters of Augusta County, Virginia, to assume the leadership of the
then thriving young school in Raleigh.
Organization and Original Building
Dr. William McPheeters
Rev. William McPheeters. D.D.
1816-1830
Dr. McPheeters was a remarkable man in many respects.
He had his classical education at Liberty Hall Academy,
Lexington, Virginia, and set out to study medicine under the
guidance of his brother, Dr. Joseph McPheeters. who was prac-ticing
in Kentucky. There Dr. McPheeters united with the
church and soon after resolved to return to Virginia and pre-pare
for the ministry. He was licensed to preach at New
Providence Church near Staunton in 1802 and had, therefore,
been actively engaged in the Gospel Ministry for eight years
before he was called to Raleigh in June 1810 to become "Prin-cipal
of the Academy and Pastor of the City." This thirty-two
year old Presbyterian Minister remained here the rest
of his long life and what he was and did left a permanent
impress on the growing youthful capital of North Carolina.
No minutes of the organization meeting of this Church
have come down to us, but from published accounts it is
known to have taken place, Sunday, January 21, 1816, in
the old State House on the present Capitol
Square where Dr. McPheeters held regu-lar
religious services for the community.
It appears from the record that other de-nominational
groups were being organized
into Churches about the same date and
our own may not have been the first. The
Officers and Charter Members are listed
here, though no reference is made at that
time to Deacons. Though special ar-rangements
for Negroes were made then
in all churches, it appears that there was
only one among the original members here.
She was either a slave or one who had
been freed and was living in this com-munity.
It will be noted that in this list
of charter members that the women out-number
the men by approximately three
to one.
Pastor
Rev. William McPheeters, D.D.
Elders
Thomas Emonds
William Peace
Mary Birch
Sarah Birch
Hannah Calhoun
Margaret Capa
Mary Fairis
Stephen Frontis
Rebecca Goodwin
Robert Harrison
John Smith
William Shaw
The Original Church Building
1818-189S
Members
Thisbie Higbie
Elizabeth Hinton
John Hinton
Elizabeth Langley
Martha Marshall
Margaret McPheeters
Susanna D. N}'e
Amanda S. Nye
Martha Peck
Henry Potter
S. M. Potter
Sylvia Potter
Ruth - Edmond - Rabeteau*
Benjamin Rouseville
Nancy Holmes (Woman
of color)
In addition to the above names, these were listed as "Occasional Members"
:
Dorcas J. Alexander Mary Alexander S. Saunders Sarah Saunders Alfred Wright
It has been stated in years gone by that this church was organized under Rev. W. L.
Turner in 1806s but that is now known to be a mistake. Mr. Turner arrived here about
November 10, 1806 and it is not possible that he began the church that year. Doubtless
the time of his arrival was mistaken by someone as the date of organization.
* Written thus in the records and not now known whether one, two, or three persons indicated.
The corner stone of the original building on this site was laid in 1817 and the Church
dedicated February 7, 1818, with Dr. McPheeters assisted in the services by Rev. John
Witherspoon of Hillsboro and Rev. .lessee H. Turner of Fayetteville. That afternoon the
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered and the first child, Margaret McPheeters,
was baptized. That first building cost about $17,000 and was paid for by the sale of pews at
public auction. Pew prices at this auction ranged from $1125 to $590, according to situation,
and each purchaser received a deed which gave him legal possession with full right to will,
sell, or trade the pew as any other piece of property. Questions of policy at first seem to
have been decided by the pew owners as a society wherein each was entitled to cast one vote
for every $50 worth of pew or pews held by him.
This original building stood for nearly eighty years and because of its size and central
location was long the common meeting place of all Christians in Raleigh. Here was held the
annual Fourth of July Sunrise service and thither came the Raleigh Academy for public
exercises and the awarding of annual prizes. Here in the old Session House located on the
Salisbury Street side of the lot, the North Carolina Supreme Court sat from 1881, when the
old State House burned, until 1840 when the present Capitol was completed. Here in the
Church were held the sessions of the 1835 Constitutional Convention, which among other im-portant
actions, for the first time happily removed political disabilities from Roman Cath-olics
in North Carolina. The Lecture Room, or Session House, was erected beside the church
in 1825 and stood until both gave way to the present structure about the turn of the century.
During its history the First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh has been a member of the
following Presbyteries: Orange. 1816-1836; Roanoke, 1836-1839; Orange, 1840-1891; Albe-marle,
1891 1924; Granville, 1924 to date.
Gift of the First Manse
Dr. Driry Lacy
The Oij> State House
Church Organized Here — 1816
The next notable pastorate
here after Dr. McPheeters was that
of Rev. Drury Lacy, D.D., who
was installed November 25, 1837,
at the age of thirty-five and re-mained
here for over eighteen
years. Dr. Lacy, son of an eminent
minister, was born in Prince Ed-ward
County, Virginia, educated
at Hampden Sidney College and
I n ion Seminary. He was Pastor
at New Bern before coming to this
Church, and resigned here to be-come
President of the then young
and struggling Davidson College.
It was during the early years
Ri:v. Dkury Lacy, D.D.
1837-1 855
of Dr. Drury Lacy's pastorate that the Manse was presented
to the Church. This splendid home at the corner of Dawson
and West Hargett Streets was the gift of Mrs. Frances Pol-lock
Devereaux. That elect lady was a descendant on her
mother's side from Jonathan Edwards of New England fame.
She lived during the early years of her married life in New
Bern but had moved to Raleigh before the arrival of Dr. Lac
v
and lived here for many years. The Manse was deeded in 184v3
and occupied thereafter by the Pastor until 1929 when it had
become undesirable as a residence and was taken down in
order that the property might be used for business purposes.
Mrs. Devereaux's intention that a Manse should be provided
for the Pastor has been carried out since the old house was
removed through the erection by the congreation of a modern
home in another location.
The old deed to this now valuable property must be one
of the unique documents on file in Wake County. It reflects the
strong character of this remarkable woman and reveals the
vigorous Calvinism which was her faith. In the preamble to this will she set forth clearly that
the property was to be used for the Minister's home so long as the Church took care that, "the
doctrines of the Westminster Confession of Faith and of the Larger and Shorter Catechisms
shall be taught in the pulpit," and as though that were not enough, she goes on to enumerate
all the distinctive doctrines of Calvinism which she considered fundamental. Then to guar-antee
that these doctrines should be known to the ministry of the Church she provided the
new house with a "Pastor's Library." Some of these volumes of a hundred years ago are still
here and it is certain no one could call them light reading. On this anniversary occasion our
Church delights to record its debt of gratitude to this noble woman and to all those of like
spirit who have come after her, whether their gifts have been large or small.
It lias been noted often that our Southern
people omit the Church in making their wills.
This does not mean that our people love their
Church less than others, but is probably due
to the fact that so many feel what they could
afford to leave is too little for any real value
in the Kingdom of Cod. The ground Mrs.
Devereaux gave was worth only a modest sum
in 184.'3, but under the present twenty-five
year lease it will produce for the service of
God many times its original value. Our
The First Manse
1813-1929
Churches and Christian
consideration today.
Colleges need such
The Civil War and After
Dr. J. M. Atkinson Dr. J. S. Watkins
Rev. J. M. Atkinson, D.D.
1855-1875
Rev. J. M. Atkinson, D.D., followed Dr. Drury Lacj1 in
1855 and found the Church in a thriving condition, though
the terrible days of war were nearer than anyone imagined.
Dr. Atkinson's pastorate continued for twenty years and it is
remarkable to observe that through all those troubled times
only one reference to the national political situation is made
in the Sessional Records. That reference of April 17, 1865
is an action bv Session offering' the Church for religious serv-ices
to be conducted by Presbyterian Chaplains of the Federal
Army then occupying Raleigh. In spite of war, poverty, and
political confusion the close of this pastorate in 1875 found
the Church stronger and larger than when Dr. Atkinson came.
The most unhappy event in the history of Raleigh
Presbyterianism occurred during the period now under review.
It had to do with the organization of a Second Presb3'terian Church as the result of some
sort of disagreement in the congregation. Only a small number of persons were involved but
it led to Dr. Atkinson's resignation here, the formation of a Second Church, and his being-called
as pastor of this group. A building was erected at the corner of Blount and Polk Streets
and Dr. Atkinson served as pastor from the organization in 1877 until he moved away in 1890.
Shortly thereafter this Church was dissolved, the property sold, and the money used bv
Presbytery to erect a Church building at Kinston. This division, now so long forgotten, is
recorded here only to be true to the record.
Upon Dr. Atkinson's resignation Rev. C. R. Vaughn, D.D., came here as Stated Supply
and served the Church in this capacity from 1875 to 1878, when he resigned.
Rev. John S. Watkins, D.D., was then called to this pastorate and took up his work
September 1878. He was the man appointed of God for such an hour in the life of this Church.
He remained for fourteen years and his
quiet ministry was effective in doing what
could never have been accomplished by
argument or eloquence. A Second Church
had little chance to grow under the cir-cumstances
and when it was discontinued
Dr. Watkins led practically all the mem-bers
back into the one fellowship. Other
Churches were soon to be needed here but
thev were destined to be established in a
Session House or Lecture
1825-1898
Rooj
Ret. John S. Watkixs, D.D.
1878-1892
far happier spirit. When Dr. Watkins came the First Church
of 199 members was suffering from the effects of this division.
He left a membership of 343 and a Church so united that
no one could ever imagine a division had taken place. This
quiet man had so endeared himself to the community that it
was only upon his second and urgent request that the congre-gation
accepted his resignation. It is only when one con-siders
the fine spirit of later colonization here that he can
truly estimate the worth of Dr. Watkins to Raleigh
Presbyterian ism.
The Present Church Building
Dr. Eugene Daniels
Rev. Eugene Daniels, D.D., came to this pastorate on
Christmas Sunday, 1892, and remained for the next ten years,
during which time the original building was removed and the
present sanctuary erected.
Discussion of the need for a new building began in 1893 and the Congregation took final
action on the matter September 15, 1895. The new corner stone was laid in 1898 and the
building dedicated free of debt September 17, 1900. Thus in five years the congregation of
350 members built and furnished the Church as it now stands, at a cost approximating
$40,000. At the dedication services, Dr. Daniels presided, Rev. Walter W. Moore, D.D., of
Union Seminary preached the sermon, Rev. W. M. McPheeters, D.D., of Columbia Seminary
and grandson of the first Pastor, made the dedication prayer. In the afternoon the Sacra-ment
of the Lord's Supper was observed as it had been at the
opening of the original building and the memorable day was
closed with an evening sermon by Rev. John S. Watkins, D.D.,
who had served the Church immediately prior to Dr. Daniel's
coming.
Among the memorials in this building it will be noted
that the large window on Salisbury Street is a gift of the
McPheeters family as a fitting memorial to the Church's first
Pastor. Though the plan of the new structure departed
drastically from all classical lines of Church architecture, it
has served the congregation and the city well for these forty
years, and, on this occasion we are moved to thank God for
the courage, resourcefulness, and generositv of those who
made it possible.
Concerning the days immediately after the completion
of this building, a former historian writes: "Thus with a
thoroughly modern equipment, renewed consecration, and a
li EV. Eugene Daniel,
1893-1902
D.D.
trustful spirit did the Church move forward to meet the
challenege of enlarged opportunity presented by the new
century. Nor were the signs of God's presence long- delayed.
During that fall and winter there were forty-one additions
by letter and confession and sixty-eight during the winter of
1901-02, following a meeting under the direction of Rev.
R. G. Pearson. This is a larger number of additions than for
any two years in the previous history of the Church. For
the first time, too, the report to Presbytery in April 1902,
shows an annual contribution of more than $2,000 for benevo-lences
other than local."
Rev. Alfred H. Moment, I). I)., was asked to supply the
Church after Dr. Daniel's resignation and in 190-i was called
to the jjastorate. Dr. Moment was a Canadian by birth and
had come South to seek relief from a throat ailment which
was aggravated by the cold of his native land. He had but a
brief pastorate here but it is generally agreed that he was the
most eloquent preacher in the Synod of North Carolina in that period. He was a man of ripe
scholarship, fine culture, and sweet Christian spirit. His influence was felt throughout this
community and people of all creeds mourned his death which occurred October 5, 1907. From
the standpoint of pulpit work Dr. Moment was probably the ablest man who ever served
this Church.
Rev. Alfred H. Moment, D.D.
1903-1907
Present Church Buii.dixg
Erected 1898
Expansion and New Sunday School Building
Dr. William McC. White
The most notable pastorate of this Church began May 6, 1908, when Rev. William McC.
White, D.D., came from the Second Presbyterian Church, Petersburg, Virginia, to begin a
twenty-six year ministry in Raleigh and Wake County. Dr. White arrived here at the age
of forty, already a seasoned man but with the best of his work
yet before him as the record will readily show. When he came
in 1908 this congregation of some 450 members was the only
Presbyterian Church in Wake Count}7
, and that after almost
a hundred years of Presbyterian occupation. When he died
twenty-six years later, there were nine organized Presbyterian
Churches in the County, each with its own house of worship
and all together with above 2,200 members. Others rendered
notable service but Dr. White was the moving spirit in all this
great expansion program.
In 1908 very soon after this 2Jastorate began an "Asso-ciation
for Christian Work in Wake County" was begun
among the members of this Church and it has helped support
such work down to the present time. In that same year Dr.
White secured the summer services of Mr. William B. Mcll-waine,
Jr., a student in Union Seminary, to survey the re-ligious
conditions in various parts of Wake County. Other
young men followed him in summer work until 1911 when Mr.
J. Edwin Hemphill, recently graduated from the Seminary, was ordained and installed As-sistant
Pastor of this Church to give full time out in the county. On November 1, 191-1, Mr.
P. R. Lacy, Jr., was ordained and
installed Assistant Pastor of this
Church with his work in lower
Wake County. In 191b' Mr. Ed-ward
S. Currie came from Union
Seminary to be the second Assistant
Pastor with his work inside the city
of Raleigh. And thus, Dr. White
built churches assisted by these
young men, by members of the con-gregation,
the society for Christian
Work, and notably by the Van-guard
Bible Class under the able
leadership of Mr. E. B. Crow. The
visible results of Dr. 'White's ex-pansion
program outside this
Rev. William McC. White, D.I).
1908-1934
Religious Education Building
Erected 1924
Church can now be seen in the following splendid organizations
:
The South Wake County Field—\ arina, Fellowship, Mt. Pleasant, and Willow Springs
Churches with a modern Manse and Rev. J. Cecil Lawrence as Pastor.
The First Vanguard Church—with a modern plant, a Manse, the Buffalo Vanguard
Chapel as a mission, and Rev. J. F. Menius as Pastor.
The North Vanguard Church—with a good building, a Manse, the Neuse Chapel as a
mission and Rev. Leslie Thompson as Pastor.
The West Raleigh Church—with its own building and modern Manse, plans for a new
Sanctuary and Rev. John II. Grey, Jr., Ph.D., as Pastor.
The Ernest Myatt Church—with a Community Building adjoining, supplied by the
Pastor of the First Church and strengthened by the long service of Dr. John B. Wright.
Very much of what is listed above has been done without the help of this Church, but all
of it has come about as the result of Dr. White's encouragement and leadership here. He was
a Home Mission Statesman without a peer in his day. Moreover, through all this work of ex-pansion
he was pastor of a growing congregation, a leader in Synod and Presbytery, and the
friendly helper of more poor people than an}' other single person in the county. During these
years Rev. Edward S. Currie volunteered for Foreign Mission Service and went out in 1919 to
Haichow, China, where half of his support has been provided since by this Church.
By the middle of Dr. White's pastorate the membership of the Church had grown until
the old Sunday school equipment was wholly inadequate to meet the needs. After long and
careful planning the congregation proceeded in 1924 to the erection of the present Education
Building, at a total cost of over $100,000. This modern structure provided space for all de-partments
of the Church School, except the Young People, who use the annex formerly oc-cupied
by the entire school. In addition, the new building has in it the Church offices, a splen-did
chapel, and a large dining room and kitchen.
Dr. White moved from the old Manse in 1929 and bought a home at the corner of Fair-view
and St. Mary's streets. He was graciouslv spared to lead this congregation through the
darkest days of economic distress at the beginning of the last decade, until on February 22,
1934?, God called the great man home.
Interior View of Present Church
The Last Decade
Rev. P. D. .Miller, D.D.
1934—
The past ten years, covering the last of Dr. White's
pastorate and the time since, has been a period of consoli-dation
and strengthening of the lines thrown out during the
previous years of rapid expansion.
The old Manse was removed during this period and in
1931 the property was placed under a long lease for business
purposes. In 1985 a beautifully located building lot on
Caswell Road in Hayes Barton was presented to the Church
by Mr. Fred F. Harding, a Ruling Elder, upon condition
that the congregation should proceed at once to erect a new
and suitable Manse. His generous gift was gratefully ac-cepted
and in 1936 the present home for the Minister was
built. This property is free of debt and there is no reason
why it should not adequately serve its purpose for many
years to come.
The year 1935 marked also the largest single gift ever
made in Raleigh for the work of the Presbyterian denomi-nation.
At that time Mr. H. H. Milner, a former member of this congregation and now a
Ruling Elder in the First Vanguard Church, created a trust to be known as the Presbyterian
Fund, Inc., and placed in it approximately $125,000 in income bearing property. Every
dollar this Fund earns goes to missionary and benevolent work and Mr. Milner paid us a high
tribute in providing that its di-rection
should always be in the
hands of Officers of this Church.
No income from this Fund can
be used by, or credited to, the
First Church. This gift has
greatly strengthened the work of
Presbyterianism in Raleigh by
providing needed support for its
present mission work and also
making possible other types of
activity. The first new venture
came with the Fund's calling
Mrs. R H. Bunch from her work
in the First Church to become
City Missionary giving the most
of her time to work among women
. . ..
, „ The Presen-t Masse, 1531 Caswell Street
and children not identified with Erected 19.%'
any Church. What this gift has already done is a record known only to God, and it is now
just begun. Mr. Milner and the other Trustees hope that through the years others may
be led to add to this Fund and so enlarge its usefulness.
During the winter of 1937-38 this Congregation began making serious moves to pay
off all debts that had been carried over from the period of expansion or inclined through
building the new Manse. In 1938, encouraged by a generous gift from Mr. H. H. Milner,
the $7,000 unpaid balance on the mortgage on the First Vanguard Church was paid off
through efforts of the Vanguard Bible Class, and that valuable property freed of all debt.
In 1939 the balance on the .$8,000 mortgage upon the Manse was paid and that property freed
of all debt. Since April 1, 1939, the balance of $19,000 on the original $55,000 mortgage upon
the Sunday School Building has been paid and this property is free of debt. During the same
years it has been necessary to spend above $5,000 on repairs and painting to put the entire plant
in good condition. At the same time the Congregation has given $6,000 to the Ministers'
Annuity Fund and steadily increased its gifts to benevolences from the necessarily low point
of depression years.
In this period our Church has continued her effort to strengthen Presbyterianism in Wake
County. This has been done through the Vanguard Bible Class and individual members who
have assisted the North Vanguard Church in finishing its building and in carrying payments
on a Manse, the Mt. Pleasant Church in erecting a splendid new building, the West Raleigh
Church in expanding its Sunday school facilities, and the South Wake County Field in build-ing
a modern Manse at Varina. Since 1930 the First Church has had a net gain of 30 per
cent, while the combined membership of all our Presbyterian Churches in Wake County has
increased by 1°. per cent. This is a wholesome growth but not more than should hi' expected
in the future if the present population trend of this area continues.
PEACE JUNIOR
COLLEGE
In the year 1857 William
Peace, an Elder in this Church,
made an initial gift of $10,000
toward the founding of a high
grade Presbyterian School for
jnrls in Raleigh. In addition he
gaye the site where the school is
now located and the institution
was named in his honor. The
school was opened as Peace In-stitute
and operated under this
familiar title until 1930 when
the name was changed. Peace
is controlled by the Presbyter- Peace Junior College
Ixterior View of Vanguard Room
ians of North Carolina through a Board of Trustees consisting of two members each from the
Presbyteries of Albemarle, Granville, Kings Mountain, Orange, and Wilmington, and seven
members appointed by the First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh. It will thus be seen how
closely related has been the life of Peace and this Church, how vital an interest we have in its
welfare, and how large a share of resposibility we have for its support. Faculty and students
are welcome members of our congreation through the school year. Many of them are mem-bers
of and faithful workers in our Church. No account of the history of this Congregation
would be complete which did not give recognition to the large part Peace College has played
in our development and the permanent place it holds in the affection of our jieople.
We rejoice that the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Anniversary finds the old Church
free of all hindering debt and ready to face the opportunities of the future with a devoted
and generous membership led by a loyal group of Officers. The Raleigh of 1941 with above
46,000 souls presents a vastly greater challenge than did the village of 1816 with approxi-mately
1,000. Our fathers of that day accepted the challenge; let us pray God for courage,
guidance, and grace to follow in their train.
Surely as we look backward today upon these years of history here it can be truthfully
and gratefully said in the words of Scripture, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." And in
the words of the old hymn we sing, each in his own heart
:
"Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by Thy good plea sure.
Safely to arrive at home.''
Rev. J. Cecil Lawrexce
Countv Pastor
Rev. Edward S. Curhie
Foreign Missionary
Miss Elizabeth Griffy
Church Secretary
Growth of Church and Community
There is presented below a table designed to show the growth of the First Presbyterian Church and the City of
Raleigh by decades. It begins with 1830 because we do not have complete records for the earlier years. The column
showing gifts represents the total contributions for all purposes in the ten-year period ending with the date shown.
77«-
Year
1830
1840
1850
1860
1870
18S0
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
19-10
Church
Membership
21
48
91
118
150
235
313
412
184
687
1,048
1,370
Population
of Raleigh
1,700
2,244
4,518
4,780
7,790
9,265
12,678
13,643
19,218
24,418
37,379
46,640
Total Gifts
By Decades
$ 1,042.18
1,717.36
4,419.00
15,509.00
13,553.00
28,875.00
35,982.00
58,158.00
78,343.00
189.436.00
527,089.00
308,041.00
Pastors of the Church
With l><ths of their Ministry
Rev. William McPheeters, D.D 1816-1830 Rev. ('. R. Vaughn, D.I) 1875-1878
Rev. Thos. P. Hunt 1829-183] Rev. J. S. Watkins, D.D 1878-1892
Rev. W. H. Harding 1832 Rev. Eugene Daniel, D.D 1893-1902
Rev. Mr. Athorpe 1832 R"- ,™am E- Cave, D.D
(( ailed but did not serve because ot ill health)
Rev. Michael Osborn . . . .1833-1836 Rev A , fn .,i H M „ u ,, lt . D.D 1903-1907
Rev. Drury Lacy, D.D 1837-1855 R cv . William Met'. White. D.D 1908-1934
Rev. J. M. Atkinson. D.D 1855-1875 Rev. P. D. Miller. D.D 1934-
Elders of the Church
ir;/7i Date of Installation
1816—William Shaw
1816—Thomas Emontls
1816—William Peace
1816—John Smith
1831—Henry Potter
1S31—Henry D. Turner
1831—Charles Dewey
1831—J. M. Towles
1831—Jesse Brown
1867—W. C. Kerr
1867—Richard W. Taylor
1867—W. II. Crow
1869—Leopold E. Heartt
1869—H. M. McPheeters
1876—William S. Primrose
1876—John B. Burwell
1883—E. G. Reade
1883—S. W. Whiting
1886—E. R. Stamps
1886—B. R. Harding
1886—Leo D. Heartt
1888—Albrecht Bauniann
1891—C. P. Wharton
1891—James Dinwiddie
1891—Julius Lewis
1896—J. M. Monie
1896—D. H. Hill
1904—Herbert W. Jackson
1904—George Allen
1904—Leo D. Heartt
1904—Thomas B. Womack
1908—Robert B. Glenn
1908—Franklin McNeill
1908—James R. Young
1914—E. B. Crow
1914—Thos. P. Harrison
1914—Henry Stockard
1914—W. A. Withers
1914—Benjamin R. Lacy
1914—George J. Ramsey
1918—O. P. Hay
1918—B. W. Kilgore
1919—W. S. Fallis
1919—John 15. Wright
1927—James C. Allison
1927—Karl G. Hudson
1927—R. W. Dunn
1927—Wm. C. Pressly
1935—Fred F. Harding
1935—David I. Fort
1935—J. W. Kellogg
1935—R. Y. McPherson
1935—F. H. Jeter
1935—A. C. Kimrey
1935—David C. Worth
1935—E. I. Wood
1939—William Home
1939—John Pasco
1939—A. A. F. Seawell
1939—Raymond A. Snow
Deacons of the Church
With Date of Installation
1859—Leopold E. Heartt
1859—R. E. Maddox
1859—E. C. Calburn
1869—Wm. S. Primrose
1869—J. M. Towles
1868—John D. Primrose
1868—Wm. C. Stronach
1868—John B. Burwell
1868 Julius Lewis
1876—I^eo D. Heartt
1876—S. W. Whiting
1876—E. R. Stamps
1876—B. R. Harding
1886—lohn M. Sherwood
1886—George C. Jordan
1886—Walter D. Hay
1888—D. S. Hudgins
1888—Wm. A. Withers
1888—Herbert W. Jackson
1889—Wm. E. Hill
1889—C. P. Wharton
1891—D. II. Hill
1891—Geo. W. Thompson
1893—J. W. Thackston
1893—C. G. Whiting
1893—J. M. Monie
1897—Geo. Allen
1897—B. W. Kilgore
1897—W. T. Harding
1897—E. B. Crow
1897—Chas. D. Wildes
1904—Oscar P. Hay
1904—Alfred A. Thompson
1904—Fred F. Harding
1904—James R. Young
1904—R. T. Gowan
1904—C. W. Barrett
1908—J. C. Allison
1908—F. M. Harper
1908—lames F. Jordon
1908—Benjamin R. Lacy
1908—Robert S. McGeachy
1908—Guy A. Roberts
1908—James A. Scott
1908—Wm. R. Smith
1908—Henry Stockard
1908—Geo. L. Womble
1908—C, S. Brimley
1908—C. K. Durfey
1908—David I. Fort
1908—J. L. Fountain
1908—S. O. Garrison
1908—C. G. Keeble
1908—J. W. Kellogg
1908—H. H. Kittrell
1908—R. Y. McPherson
1918—A. P. Bauman
1918—W. S. Fallis
1918— Karl G. Hudson
1918—F. H. Jeter
1918—G. C. Scarlette
1918—John M. Sherwood
1918—John B. Wright
1920—Wm. J. Andrews
1920—J. J. Brown
1920—A. S. Brower
1920—E. G. Gaffnev
1920—R. E. Gettvs
1920—A. E. Lewis
1920—B. F. Montague
1928—A. C. Kimrev
1928—R. C. Aunspaugh
1928—Hal V. Worth
1928—R. J. Wyatt
1935—H. N. Culbreth
1935—J. A. Davidson
1935—W. J. Hudson. Jr.
1935—Lyman Kiser
1935—Wm. P. McPherson
1935—L. M. Smith
1935—R. A. Snow
1935—J. C. Thompson
1935—J. T. Maddrev
1935—W. T. Martin
1935—J. P. Dodge
1939—L. X. Duncan
1939—X. G. Fonville
1939—Geo. P. Geoghegan
1939—P. H. Kime
1939—Donald Kimrey
1939—T. A. Norris
1939—John S. Rhodes
1939—Frank Sherwood
1939—1. V. Shunk
Church Directory
Rev. P. D. Miller, D.D., Pastor
Rev. Edward S. Curhie, Foreign Missionary Elizabeth Gkiity, Church Secretary
J. C. Allison
R. W. Dunn
n. I. Fort
O. P. Hay
William Home
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD AND OF
The Sessiox
Rev. P. I). Miller, D.D.. Moderator
Wm. C. Pressly, Clerk
PRAYER
K. G. Hudson
F. F. Harding
F. H. Jeter
B. W. Kilgore
.1. W. Kellogg
A. C. Kimrev
R. Y. McPherson
John Paseo
A. A. F. Seawell
R. A. Snow
E. I. Wood
I). C. Worth
J. B. Wright
Win. J. Andrews
H. X. Culbreth
J. A. Davidson
N. G. Fonville
S. O. Garrison
George Geoghegan
THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
The Board of Deacoxs
G. C. Searlette, Chairman H. V. Worth, Secretary
W. T. Harding
F. M. Harper
W. J. Hudson. Jr.
M. L. Riser
J. C. Little
J. T. Maddrev
W. T. Martin
Wm. P. McPherson
T. A. Xorris
John S. Rhodes
J. A. Seott
F. W. Sherwood
J, C. Thompson
A. E. Lewis, Treasurer Current Expenses
R. J. Wvatt, Treasurer Benevolences
C. G. Keehlc
P. H. Kime
Donald Kiniery
I. V. Shunk
W. R. Smith
L. M. Smith
THE MINISTRY OF TEACHING
Tin: Chubc'ii School
K. G. Hudson . General Superintendent Mrs. I.. R. Thacker Superintendent Beginner Dept.
D Q Worth ) Mrs. J. C. Allison... Superintendent Cradle Roll Dept.
R. A. Snow / Associate Superintendents
Wm. P McPherson ) Am. lT Dl:PAllTM1;XT
F. W. Sherwood Secretary and Treasurer
D. C. Worth Superintendent Young People's Dept. Vanguard Bible Class George Geoghegan, Jr., Teacher
Wm. P. McPherson Superintendent Intermediate Dept. Bettie Penick Bible Class, Mrs. Charles Johnson, Teacher
Mrs. D. C. Worth Superintendent Junior Dept. Four Square Bible Class Mrs. B. H. Bunch, Teacher
Mrs. Henrv Parker Superintendent Primary Dept. Moment Bible Class G. M. Garren, Teacher
THE .MINISTRY OF MUSIC
Mrs. C. P. Wharton, Organist
Mrs. O. E. Finch, Director
THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN
Woman's Auxiliary
.Mrs. Win. C. Pressly, President
Senior Young People
THE MINISTRY OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Betty Brown, President Intermediate Young People
Bov Scouts Wm. P. McPherson, Leader
Dan Martin, President
Harry Ricks, Sexton
Society for Christian Work
Fred F. Harding. President David I. Fort, Treasurer
Gertrude Curtis, Maid
North Carolina State Library
Raleigh
Memorials
Back Window To Rev. Wm. McPheeters, D.D.
Side Window To Rev. Robert Burwell, D.D.
Side Window. To Albrecht Bauman
Side Window To W. N. H. Smith
Side Window. To Mary Olivia Smith
Front Window To Edwin G. and Mary E. Reade
Organ . • • • • -To Albrecht Bauman and
William Hall Kerr
Flower Stand To ... . Elsie Bragg Heartt, Mary Hanway
Duncan, Elsie Stamps Parker, Cora
Holt Mebane
Pulpit Beble To W. R. and Lucy Atkinson
Pulpit BrBLE To Mary Childs Conklin
Pulpit Hymnals To Mrs. Wm. H. Rogers
Baptismal Fount . . .To Children of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Johnson
Baptismal Bowl By John Primrose
Communion Table. . .To Sally Ousley Litchford
Two Communion Plates To Kate Boylan West
Two Communion Plates By Charles Dewey
Two Communion Cups By Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Turner
Offertory Plates To Alfred A. Thompson
Hymn Bulletin Board To Mrs. Bettie Dinwiddie Kilgore
Furnishings Children's Departments . . .To Mrs. Mollie Penick Bauman
Vanguard Window . . , To Mrs. Nannie Burwell Crow
Tablet To Rev. Alfred Moment, D.D.
Tablet To Mrs. Zeb B. Vance
(Originally in Second Church)
Tablet To Rev. Wm. McC. White, D.D.
Tablet To First Choir, Organized 1870
A. Bauman, Organist
Mrs. A. Bauman, Soprano L. D. Heartt, Tenor
Mrs. G. C. Jordon, Alto W. S. Primrose, Bass
Fund for Memory Prizes To Mrs. Adelaide Worth Bagley
&&m Carolina m^ ^ferarV
Ratetgf
EDWA&D8 4 BBO0OHTON CO.
EAiEIGH, X. C.
GQ 285.1 F527f
First Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, N.C.
First Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, Nort
3 3091 00229 0955
DATE DUE
AUG 1 ft* IS
A u k .*
OCT 3 1 1996
CAYLORD PRINTED IN U S A.

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*
11
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, RALEIGH,
NORTH CAROLINA, 1816-1941
37
Raleigh N. C. First Presbyterian Church
Q
285.1
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2013
http://archive.org/details/firstpresbyteriafirs
One Hundred Twenty -Fifth
Anniversary
1816 - 1941
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina State Library
Raleigh
First Presbyterian Church
Uf
Raleigh, North Carolina
1816-1941
This booklet is not a history of the church and docs not
even attempt to deed rcitli all the pastorates. It is only
a brief statement of some of the outstanding
accomplishments here through the years.
125th Anniversary Committee
F. H. Jeteb, Chairman
K. G. Hudson
15. W. Kii.gori:
G. C. SCARIETTE
1{. J. Wyatt
Wll. P. McPlIERSON
Mrs. B. R. Lacy
Mrs. Geo. U. Baucom
Miss Susan McPheeters
Mrs. L. P. Duncan
Honorary Members
Mrs. C. D. Heartt Dr. B. K. Laci-u.
3
HE First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh was organized January 21, 1816, in
the old State House with Rev. William McPheeters, D.D., as Pastor.
The first public discourse delivered by a Presbyterian Minister in Raleigh
was a funeral sermon preached in the State House December 17, 1799, by Rev.
Joseph Caldwell, D.D., first President of the University of North Carolina. The
earliest of our Presbyterian Ministers to live in Raleigh were, like Dr. Caldwell, engaged in
school work. The Raleigh Academy was established by the 1802 Legislature and granted
the public square then known as Burke's Garden, present site of the Governor's Mansion. The
original building was erected and formally opened June 25, 1804. The first Presbyterian
Minister to make an impress on the life of Raleigh was Rev. William Leftwich Turner of Bed-ford
City, Virginia, who had been teaching in Washington Academy, Lexington, Virginia,
and was called here in 1806 by the Trustees of this new school to become "Principal of the
Academy and Pastor of the City." Under this arrangement Mr. Turner taught in the school,
preached each Sunday in the State House and served as Pastor of the community without
respect to any denominational lines. Ministers of other denominations were welcomed and
invited to preach when they came this way, but he seems to have been the resident pastor
of all alike and to have continued to serve in that capacity until his removal in 1809 to the
then larger field of Fayetteville. It was upon the departure of Mr. Turner that the Trustees
invited William McPheeters of Augusta County, Virginia, to assume the leadership of the
then thriving young school in Raleigh.
Organization and Original Building
Dr. William McPheeters
Rev. William McPheeters. D.D.
1816-1830
Dr. McPheeters was a remarkable man in many respects.
He had his classical education at Liberty Hall Academy,
Lexington, Virginia, and set out to study medicine under the
guidance of his brother, Dr. Joseph McPheeters. who was prac-ticing
in Kentucky. There Dr. McPheeters united with the
church and soon after resolved to return to Virginia and pre-pare
for the ministry. He was licensed to preach at New
Providence Church near Staunton in 1802 and had, therefore,
been actively engaged in the Gospel Ministry for eight years
before he was called to Raleigh in June 1810 to become "Prin-cipal
of the Academy and Pastor of the City." This thirty-two
year old Presbyterian Minister remained here the rest
of his long life and what he was and did left a permanent
impress on the growing youthful capital of North Carolina.
No minutes of the organization meeting of this Church
have come down to us, but from published accounts it is
known to have taken place, Sunday, January 21, 1816, in
the old State House on the present Capitol
Square where Dr. McPheeters held regu-lar
religious services for the community.
It appears from the record that other de-nominational
groups were being organized
into Churches about the same date and
our own may not have been the first. The
Officers and Charter Members are listed
here, though no reference is made at that
time to Deacons. Though special ar-rangements
for Negroes were made then
in all churches, it appears that there was
only one among the original members here.
She was either a slave or one who had
been freed and was living in this com-munity.
It will be noted that in this list
of charter members that the women out-number
the men by approximately three
to one.
Pastor
Rev. William McPheeters, D.D.
Elders
Thomas Emonds
William Peace
Mary Birch
Sarah Birch
Hannah Calhoun
Margaret Capa
Mary Fairis
Stephen Frontis
Rebecca Goodwin
Robert Harrison
John Smith
William Shaw
The Original Church Building
1818-189S
Members
Thisbie Higbie
Elizabeth Hinton
John Hinton
Elizabeth Langley
Martha Marshall
Margaret McPheeters
Susanna D. N}'e
Amanda S. Nye
Martha Peck
Henry Potter
S. M. Potter
Sylvia Potter
Ruth - Edmond - Rabeteau*
Benjamin Rouseville
Nancy Holmes (Woman
of color)
In addition to the above names, these were listed as "Occasional Members"
:
Dorcas J. Alexander Mary Alexander S. Saunders Sarah Saunders Alfred Wright
It has been stated in years gone by that this church was organized under Rev. W. L.
Turner in 1806s but that is now known to be a mistake. Mr. Turner arrived here about
November 10, 1806 and it is not possible that he began the church that year. Doubtless
the time of his arrival was mistaken by someone as the date of organization.
* Written thus in the records and not now known whether one, two, or three persons indicated.
The corner stone of the original building on this site was laid in 1817 and the Church
dedicated February 7, 1818, with Dr. McPheeters assisted in the services by Rev. John
Witherspoon of Hillsboro and Rev. .lessee H. Turner of Fayetteville. That afternoon the
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered and the first child, Margaret McPheeters,
was baptized. That first building cost about $17,000 and was paid for by the sale of pews at
public auction. Pew prices at this auction ranged from $1125 to $590, according to situation,
and each purchaser received a deed which gave him legal possession with full right to will,
sell, or trade the pew as any other piece of property. Questions of policy at first seem to
have been decided by the pew owners as a society wherein each was entitled to cast one vote
for every $50 worth of pew or pews held by him.
This original building stood for nearly eighty years and because of its size and central
location was long the common meeting place of all Christians in Raleigh. Here was held the
annual Fourth of July Sunrise service and thither came the Raleigh Academy for public
exercises and the awarding of annual prizes. Here in the old Session House located on the
Salisbury Street side of the lot, the North Carolina Supreme Court sat from 1881, when the
old State House burned, until 1840 when the present Capitol was completed. Here in the
Church were held the sessions of the 1835 Constitutional Convention, which among other im-portant
actions, for the first time happily removed political disabilities from Roman Cath-olics
in North Carolina. The Lecture Room, or Session House, was erected beside the church
in 1825 and stood until both gave way to the present structure about the turn of the century.
During its history the First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh has been a member of the
following Presbyteries: Orange. 1816-1836; Roanoke, 1836-1839; Orange, 1840-1891; Albe-marle,
1891 1924; Granville, 1924 to date.
Gift of the First Manse
Dr. Driry Lacy
The Oij> State House
Church Organized Here — 1816
The next notable pastorate
here after Dr. McPheeters was that
of Rev. Drury Lacy, D.D., who
was installed November 25, 1837,
at the age of thirty-five and re-mained
here for over eighteen
years. Dr. Lacy, son of an eminent
minister, was born in Prince Ed-ward
County, Virginia, educated
at Hampden Sidney College and
I n ion Seminary. He was Pastor
at New Bern before coming to this
Church, and resigned here to be-come
President of the then young
and struggling Davidson College.
It was during the early years
Ri:v. Dkury Lacy, D.D.
1837-1 855
of Dr. Drury Lacy's pastorate that the Manse was presented
to the Church. This splendid home at the corner of Dawson
and West Hargett Streets was the gift of Mrs. Frances Pol-lock
Devereaux. That elect lady was a descendant on her
mother's side from Jonathan Edwards of New England fame.
She lived during the early years of her married life in New
Bern but had moved to Raleigh before the arrival of Dr. Lac
v
and lived here for many years. The Manse was deeded in 184v3
and occupied thereafter by the Pastor until 1929 when it had
become undesirable as a residence and was taken down in
order that the property might be used for business purposes.
Mrs. Devereaux's intention that a Manse should be provided
for the Pastor has been carried out since the old house was
removed through the erection by the congreation of a modern
home in another location.
The old deed to this now valuable property must be one
of the unique documents on file in Wake County. It reflects the
strong character of this remarkable woman and reveals the
vigorous Calvinism which was her faith. In the preamble to this will she set forth clearly that
the property was to be used for the Minister's home so long as the Church took care that, "the
doctrines of the Westminster Confession of Faith and of the Larger and Shorter Catechisms
shall be taught in the pulpit," and as though that were not enough, she goes on to enumerate
all the distinctive doctrines of Calvinism which she considered fundamental. Then to guar-antee
that these doctrines should be known to the ministry of the Church she provided the
new house with a "Pastor's Library." Some of these volumes of a hundred years ago are still
here and it is certain no one could call them light reading. On this anniversary occasion our
Church delights to record its debt of gratitude to this noble woman and to all those of like
spirit who have come after her, whether their gifts have been large or small.
It lias been noted often that our Southern
people omit the Church in making their wills.
This does not mean that our people love their
Church less than others, but is probably due
to the fact that so many feel what they could
afford to leave is too little for any real value
in the Kingdom of Cod. The ground Mrs.
Devereaux gave was worth only a modest sum
in 184.'3, but under the present twenty-five
year lease it will produce for the service of
God many times its original value. Our
The First Manse
1813-1929
Churches and Christian
consideration today.
Colleges need such
The Civil War and After
Dr. J. M. Atkinson Dr. J. S. Watkins
Rev. J. M. Atkinson, D.D.
1855-1875
Rev. J. M. Atkinson, D.D., followed Dr. Drury Lacj1 in
1855 and found the Church in a thriving condition, though
the terrible days of war were nearer than anyone imagined.
Dr. Atkinson's pastorate continued for twenty years and it is
remarkable to observe that through all those troubled times
only one reference to the national political situation is made
in the Sessional Records. That reference of April 17, 1865
is an action bv Session offering' the Church for religious serv-ices
to be conducted by Presbyterian Chaplains of the Federal
Army then occupying Raleigh. In spite of war, poverty, and
political confusion the close of this pastorate in 1875 found
the Church stronger and larger than when Dr. Atkinson came.
The most unhappy event in the history of Raleigh
Presbyterianism occurred during the period now under review.
It had to do with the organization of a Second Presb3'terian Church as the result of some
sort of disagreement in the congregation. Only a small number of persons were involved but
it led to Dr. Atkinson's resignation here, the formation of a Second Church, and his being-called
as pastor of this group. A building was erected at the corner of Blount and Polk Streets
and Dr. Atkinson served as pastor from the organization in 1877 until he moved away in 1890.
Shortly thereafter this Church was dissolved, the property sold, and the money used bv
Presbytery to erect a Church building at Kinston. This division, now so long forgotten, is
recorded here only to be true to the record.
Upon Dr. Atkinson's resignation Rev. C. R. Vaughn, D.D., came here as Stated Supply
and served the Church in this capacity from 1875 to 1878, when he resigned.
Rev. John S. Watkins, D.D., was then called to this pastorate and took up his work
September 1878. He was the man appointed of God for such an hour in the life of this Church.
He remained for fourteen years and his
quiet ministry was effective in doing what
could never have been accomplished by
argument or eloquence. A Second Church
had little chance to grow under the cir-cumstances
and when it was discontinued
Dr. Watkins led practically all the mem-bers
back into the one fellowship. Other
Churches were soon to be needed here but
thev were destined to be established in a
Session House or Lecture
1825-1898
Rooj
Ret. John S. Watkixs, D.D.
1878-1892
far happier spirit. When Dr. Watkins came the First Church
of 199 members was suffering from the effects of this division.
He left a membership of 343 and a Church so united that
no one could ever imagine a division had taken place. This
quiet man had so endeared himself to the community that it
was only upon his second and urgent request that the congre-gation
accepted his resignation. It is only when one con-siders
the fine spirit of later colonization here that he can
truly estimate the worth of Dr. Watkins to Raleigh
Presbyterian ism.
The Present Church Building
Dr. Eugene Daniels
Rev. Eugene Daniels, D.D., came to this pastorate on
Christmas Sunday, 1892, and remained for the next ten years,
during which time the original building was removed and the
present sanctuary erected.
Discussion of the need for a new building began in 1893 and the Congregation took final
action on the matter September 15, 1895. The new corner stone was laid in 1898 and the
building dedicated free of debt September 17, 1900. Thus in five years the congregation of
350 members built and furnished the Church as it now stands, at a cost approximating
$40,000. At the dedication services, Dr. Daniels presided, Rev. Walter W. Moore, D.D., of
Union Seminary preached the sermon, Rev. W. M. McPheeters, D.D., of Columbia Seminary
and grandson of the first Pastor, made the dedication prayer. In the afternoon the Sacra-ment
of the Lord's Supper was observed as it had been at the
opening of the original building and the memorable day was
closed with an evening sermon by Rev. John S. Watkins, D.D.,
who had served the Church immediately prior to Dr. Daniel's
coming.
Among the memorials in this building it will be noted
that the large window on Salisbury Street is a gift of the
McPheeters family as a fitting memorial to the Church's first
Pastor. Though the plan of the new structure departed
drastically from all classical lines of Church architecture, it
has served the congregation and the city well for these forty
years, and, on this occasion we are moved to thank God for
the courage, resourcefulness, and generositv of those who
made it possible.
Concerning the days immediately after the completion
of this building, a former historian writes: "Thus with a
thoroughly modern equipment, renewed consecration, and a
li EV. Eugene Daniel,
1893-1902
D.D.
trustful spirit did the Church move forward to meet the
challenege of enlarged opportunity presented by the new
century. Nor were the signs of God's presence long- delayed.
During that fall and winter there were forty-one additions
by letter and confession and sixty-eight during the winter of
1901-02, following a meeting under the direction of Rev.
R. G. Pearson. This is a larger number of additions than for
any two years in the previous history of the Church. For
the first time, too, the report to Presbytery in April 1902,
shows an annual contribution of more than $2,000 for benevo-lences
other than local."
Rev. Alfred H. Moment, I). I)., was asked to supply the
Church after Dr. Daniel's resignation and in 190-i was called
to the jjastorate. Dr. Moment was a Canadian by birth and
had come South to seek relief from a throat ailment which
was aggravated by the cold of his native land. He had but a
brief pastorate here but it is generally agreed that he was the
most eloquent preacher in the Synod of North Carolina in that period. He was a man of ripe
scholarship, fine culture, and sweet Christian spirit. His influence was felt throughout this
community and people of all creeds mourned his death which occurred October 5, 1907. From
the standpoint of pulpit work Dr. Moment was probably the ablest man who ever served
this Church.
Rev. Alfred H. Moment, D.D.
1903-1907
Present Church Buii.dixg
Erected 1898
Expansion and New Sunday School Building
Dr. William McC. White
The most notable pastorate of this Church began May 6, 1908, when Rev. William McC.
White, D.D., came from the Second Presbyterian Church, Petersburg, Virginia, to begin a
twenty-six year ministry in Raleigh and Wake County. Dr. White arrived here at the age
of forty, already a seasoned man but with the best of his work
yet before him as the record will readily show. When he came
in 1908 this congregation of some 450 members was the only
Presbyterian Church in Wake Count}7
, and that after almost
a hundred years of Presbyterian occupation. When he died
twenty-six years later, there were nine organized Presbyterian
Churches in the County, each with its own house of worship
and all together with above 2,200 members. Others rendered
notable service but Dr. White was the moving spirit in all this
great expansion program.
In 1908 very soon after this 2Jastorate began an "Asso-ciation
for Christian Work in Wake County" was begun
among the members of this Church and it has helped support
such work down to the present time. In that same year Dr.
White secured the summer services of Mr. William B. Mcll-waine,
Jr., a student in Union Seminary, to survey the re-ligious
conditions in various parts of Wake County. Other
young men followed him in summer work until 1911 when Mr.
J. Edwin Hemphill, recently graduated from the Seminary, was ordained and installed As-sistant
Pastor of this Church to give full time out in the county. On November 1, 191-1, Mr.
P. R. Lacy, Jr., was ordained and
installed Assistant Pastor of this
Church with his work in lower
Wake County. In 191b' Mr. Ed-ward
S. Currie came from Union
Seminary to be the second Assistant
Pastor with his work inside the city
of Raleigh. And thus, Dr. White
built churches assisted by these
young men, by members of the con-gregation,
the society for Christian
Work, and notably by the Van-guard
Bible Class under the able
leadership of Mr. E. B. Crow. The
visible results of Dr. 'White's ex-pansion
program outside this
Rev. William McC. White, D.I).
1908-1934
Religious Education Building
Erected 1924
Church can now be seen in the following splendid organizations
:
The South Wake County Field—\ arina, Fellowship, Mt. Pleasant, and Willow Springs
Churches with a modern Manse and Rev. J. Cecil Lawrence as Pastor.
The First Vanguard Church—with a modern plant, a Manse, the Buffalo Vanguard
Chapel as a mission, and Rev. J. F. Menius as Pastor.
The North Vanguard Church—with a good building, a Manse, the Neuse Chapel as a
mission and Rev. Leslie Thompson as Pastor.
The West Raleigh Church—with its own building and modern Manse, plans for a new
Sanctuary and Rev. John II. Grey, Jr., Ph.D., as Pastor.
The Ernest Myatt Church—with a Community Building adjoining, supplied by the
Pastor of the First Church and strengthened by the long service of Dr. John B. Wright.
Very much of what is listed above has been done without the help of this Church, but all
of it has come about as the result of Dr. White's encouragement and leadership here. He was
a Home Mission Statesman without a peer in his day. Moreover, through all this work of ex-pansion
he was pastor of a growing congregation, a leader in Synod and Presbytery, and the
friendly helper of more poor people than an}' other single person in the county. During these
years Rev. Edward S. Currie volunteered for Foreign Mission Service and went out in 1919 to
Haichow, China, where half of his support has been provided since by this Church.
By the middle of Dr. White's pastorate the membership of the Church had grown until
the old Sunday school equipment was wholly inadequate to meet the needs. After long and
careful planning the congregation proceeded in 1924 to the erection of the present Education
Building, at a total cost of over $100,000. This modern structure provided space for all de-partments
of the Church School, except the Young People, who use the annex formerly oc-cupied
by the entire school. In addition, the new building has in it the Church offices, a splen-did
chapel, and a large dining room and kitchen.
Dr. White moved from the old Manse in 1929 and bought a home at the corner of Fair-view
and St. Mary's streets. He was graciouslv spared to lead this congregation through the
darkest days of economic distress at the beginning of the last decade, until on February 22,
1934?, God called the great man home.
Interior View of Present Church
The Last Decade
Rev. P. D. .Miller, D.D.
1934—
The past ten years, covering the last of Dr. White's
pastorate and the time since, has been a period of consoli-dation
and strengthening of the lines thrown out during the
previous years of rapid expansion.
The old Manse was removed during this period and in
1931 the property was placed under a long lease for business
purposes. In 1985 a beautifully located building lot on
Caswell Road in Hayes Barton was presented to the Church
by Mr. Fred F. Harding, a Ruling Elder, upon condition
that the congregation should proceed at once to erect a new
and suitable Manse. His generous gift was gratefully ac-cepted
and in 1936 the present home for the Minister was
built. This property is free of debt and there is no reason
why it should not adequately serve its purpose for many
years to come.
The year 1935 marked also the largest single gift ever
made in Raleigh for the work of the Presbyterian denomi-nation.
At that time Mr. H. H. Milner, a former member of this congregation and now a
Ruling Elder in the First Vanguard Church, created a trust to be known as the Presbyterian
Fund, Inc., and placed in it approximately $125,000 in income bearing property. Every
dollar this Fund earns goes to missionary and benevolent work and Mr. Milner paid us a high
tribute in providing that its di-rection
should always be in the
hands of Officers of this Church.
No income from this Fund can
be used by, or credited to, the
First Church. This gift has
greatly strengthened the work of
Presbyterianism in Raleigh by
providing needed support for its
present mission work and also
making possible other types of
activity. The first new venture
came with the Fund's calling
Mrs. R H. Bunch from her work
in the First Church to become
City Missionary giving the most
of her time to work among women
. . ..
, „ The Presen-t Masse, 1531 Caswell Street
and children not identified with Erected 19.%'
any Church. What this gift has already done is a record known only to God, and it is now
just begun. Mr. Milner and the other Trustees hope that through the years others may
be led to add to this Fund and so enlarge its usefulness.
During the winter of 1937-38 this Congregation began making serious moves to pay
off all debts that had been carried over from the period of expansion or inclined through
building the new Manse. In 1938, encouraged by a generous gift from Mr. H. H. Milner,
the $7,000 unpaid balance on the mortgage on the First Vanguard Church was paid off
through efforts of the Vanguard Bible Class, and that valuable property freed of all debt.
In 1939 the balance on the .$8,000 mortgage upon the Manse was paid and that property freed
of all debt. Since April 1, 1939, the balance of $19,000 on the original $55,000 mortgage upon
the Sunday School Building has been paid and this property is free of debt. During the same
years it has been necessary to spend above $5,000 on repairs and painting to put the entire plant
in good condition. At the same time the Congregation has given $6,000 to the Ministers'
Annuity Fund and steadily increased its gifts to benevolences from the necessarily low point
of depression years.
In this period our Church has continued her effort to strengthen Presbyterianism in Wake
County. This has been done through the Vanguard Bible Class and individual members who
have assisted the North Vanguard Church in finishing its building and in carrying payments
on a Manse, the Mt. Pleasant Church in erecting a splendid new building, the West Raleigh
Church in expanding its Sunday school facilities, and the South Wake County Field in build-ing
a modern Manse at Varina. Since 1930 the First Church has had a net gain of 30 per
cent, while the combined membership of all our Presbyterian Churches in Wake County has
increased by 1°. per cent. This is a wholesome growth but not more than should hi' expected
in the future if the present population trend of this area continues.
PEACE JUNIOR
COLLEGE
In the year 1857 William
Peace, an Elder in this Church,
made an initial gift of $10,000
toward the founding of a high
grade Presbyterian School for
jnrls in Raleigh. In addition he
gaye the site where the school is
now located and the institution
was named in his honor. The
school was opened as Peace In-stitute
and operated under this
familiar title until 1930 when
the name was changed. Peace
is controlled by the Presbyter- Peace Junior College
Ixterior View of Vanguard Room
ians of North Carolina through a Board of Trustees consisting of two members each from the
Presbyteries of Albemarle, Granville, Kings Mountain, Orange, and Wilmington, and seven
members appointed by the First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh. It will thus be seen how
closely related has been the life of Peace and this Church, how vital an interest we have in its
welfare, and how large a share of resposibility we have for its support. Faculty and students
are welcome members of our congreation through the school year. Many of them are mem-bers
of and faithful workers in our Church. No account of the history of this Congregation
would be complete which did not give recognition to the large part Peace College has played
in our development and the permanent place it holds in the affection of our jieople.
We rejoice that the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Anniversary finds the old Church
free of all hindering debt and ready to face the opportunities of the future with a devoted
and generous membership led by a loyal group of Officers. The Raleigh of 1941 with above
46,000 souls presents a vastly greater challenge than did the village of 1816 with approxi-mately
1,000. Our fathers of that day accepted the challenge; let us pray God for courage,
guidance, and grace to follow in their train.
Surely as we look backward today upon these years of history here it can be truthfully
and gratefully said in the words of Scripture, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." And in
the words of the old hymn we sing, each in his own heart
:
"Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by Thy good plea sure.
Safely to arrive at home.''
Rev. J. Cecil Lawrexce
Countv Pastor
Rev. Edward S. Curhie
Foreign Missionary
Miss Elizabeth Griffy
Church Secretary
Growth of Church and Community
There is presented below a table designed to show the growth of the First Presbyterian Church and the City of
Raleigh by decades. It begins with 1830 because we do not have complete records for the earlier years. The column
showing gifts represents the total contributions for all purposes in the ten-year period ending with the date shown.
77«-
Year
1830
1840
1850
1860
1870
18S0
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
19-10
Church
Membership
21
48
91
118
150
235
313
412
184
687
1,048
1,370
Population
of Raleigh
1,700
2,244
4,518
4,780
7,790
9,265
12,678
13,643
19,218
24,418
37,379
46,640
Total Gifts
By Decades
$ 1,042.18
1,717.36
4,419.00
15,509.00
13,553.00
28,875.00
35,982.00
58,158.00
78,343.00
189.436.00
527,089.00
308,041.00
Pastors of the Church
With l>